Si tiene alguna duda sobre esta nota debido a la traduccion,
por favor comuniquese con Rafael Friedmann via email: rfriedmann@aol.com
Message from the Principal
Dear Emerson Community,
First, let’s start with the good news! We did it- we met our Heart of Emerson fundraising goal! We are so thankful for the support we have received. Your generosity is outstanding and means so much to us. Our schoolwide PE and Art programs are safe for another year. This also means we will continue to have Office Support, which helps immensely with all of the Covid tracing protocols. The Equity Workshops for staff and families will also continue. Students will benefit from field trips, cultural enrichment programs, materials, and supplies. Big Shout out to Arabelle Malinis and Krysten Curtis, Fundraising Chairs, for all their hard work and dedication!
Now that the Big Football Game between Cal and USC is done (Cal won- Go Bears!), Steven Wilson can relax on the weekends. We are thankful for the many hours he spent organizing this important fundraiser. Shout out to everyone who took a turn hosting the Emerson parking lot for the PTA Cal Football Parking fundraiser this fall.
The troubling news is that we have seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the past couple of weeks. Our Friday student testing has uncovered positive cases, which shows testing works. In some ways, it is not surprising that there are more transmissions since folks have been traveling and gathering during this Holiday season. We ask that you consider the Alameda County Office of Education Travel Guidance, which can be found here. For those who are not fully vaccinated, please get Covid tested and quarantine for at least seven days after returning from travel. In general, a person is considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot (in a two-shot vaccination series) as explained by the CDC here. Let’s work together to keep Emerson as safe as possible.
This is also a good time to remind everyone that in order to be eligible for the on-campus shortened quarantine, a student must be signed up to test on campus. If you have not done so already, please use this link to register with Primary Health for Friday morning Covid testing: https://my.primary.health/l/berkeley_usd. If a positive covid case is identified in a classroom, those students who are not displaying any symptoms will be tested twice weekly at school. Those who are not signed up to test must quarantine at home, and BUSD does not accept Covid test results from outside sources to shorten the 10 day quarantine period.
Again, let’s all work together to stay healthy this Winter. Please do not send your child to school if they are sick. Call the office or e-mail Leahlopez@berkeley.net with the reason for the absence.
If your student has recently received their second COVID- 19 vaccine, please scan or photograph the front and back of their vaccination card and email it to: vax@berkeley.net.
As we move closer to Winter Break, we will have some fun! We enjoyed the Oaxacan Wood Carver visiting campus (outside) this week. We are also planning a Lunch Time Party, with Music and a treat for the students. Friday, December 17th is a Spirit Day and the theme is “pajama day”. So, get those holiday jammies ready for school!
Thank you for your support and take care,
Jana Holmes
Upcoming Events and Key Dates
December 13: School Site Council Meeting
December 20 - 31: Winter Break - No School
Add the Emerson Google Calendar to yours!
Note to Readers: BearFacts articles and calendar items are based on submissions from the community and reviewed and edited under the PTA communication policy. Inclusion of an item in BearFacts by itself does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the PTA, Emerson school staff, or BUSD.
Teachers’ Corner: 2nd Grade Artists create paintings of dogs "shaking off the blues" inspired by artist Iris Scott.
The young artists drew and painted the dogs in one class. The following week they cut out the dogs and glued them to a blue background. Then, just like artist Iris Scott, we used our FINGERS to finger paint the water drops coming off the shaking dogs! Some of us also used a special squirt bottle to spray some splatters on our paintings as well. It was a joyful mess!
DECEMBER SHOUT OUTS:
Holiday Gift Cards for Families in Need
The Berkeley Public Schools Fund and the Office of Family Engagement and Equity are working together to fundraise for Holiday Gift Cards for families in need in our schools. To support this effort, donations for Holiday Gift Cards can be made here. (Click on the link and then select Holiday Gift Cards as the program and complete the rest of the form.) If your family is needing support during the holiday season, please contact Lily Howell at lilyhowell@berkeley.net.
HOLIDAY APPRECIATIONS
A merry opportunity to join the collective holiday thank you to our amazing Emerson Staff! Just click HERE to contribute a bright appreciation to our outstanding admin, support staff, and Kids World team this holiday season! If you prefer an alternative method, please send a donation via your child’s Look Folder in a sealed envelope labeled with your child’s name and HOLIDAY GIFT.
This gift is for STAFF. Please look for your Grade Parents message about TEACHER gifts which are separate per child’s class.
For ease, please use this donation link OR send cash/checks via Look Folder (checks made payable to name below).
Let’s please contribute by Wednesday, December 13th. Any questions can be directed to: Michelle Medeiros at puravidamama@gmail.com and together we bring cheer!
WHERE'S WALDO - EMERSON'S COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
Did you know our school directory can be found on our school website? Playdates, ride shares, resource sharing and more can be possible when Where’s Waldo is complete! It’s all available securely online and printable. Paper submissions are being updated as they come. If you have not done so already, please create an account to access the directory, make your own updates, and adjust your preferences by using the email you provided. Click here for the steps to joining Where's Waldo! Questions: email emersonschoolnews@gmail.com
COVID Vaccine and Testing Resources
COVID vaccinations are available at a number of locations within our community. Please review and share this document for vaccine and testing locations often. It will be updated with new information as it becomes available. If you have information to add to this list, please email emersonequitypta@gmail.com.
BERKELEY ART MUSEUM - Family PROGRAMS:
BAMPFA Second Saturday programs will be on December 11th:
Virtual Second Saturdays at BAMPFA - December 11th on Zoom
Virtual Gallery + Studio at 12:30pm (For ages 6 - 12)
Join us for a fun session combining personal awareness and expressive poster making inspired by the work of Oakland’s own activist-artist Favianna Rodriguez. Powerful and Positive Poster-Making Party will be led by artist, Raphael Noz.
Virtual Roundtable Reading at 2:30pm (For ages 8 and up)
This month, we will read Ways to Make Sunshine by Reneé Watson. We will meet Ryan Hart, who tries to see the best in everyone and to live up to her name. We will read through her challenges with Rachel Budge, Emerson Elementary School Librarian.
Advance registration required. The registration forms will be available online on Wednesday and Thursday, December 8 and 9, to receive a Zoom link on Saturday, December 11.
How to Connect!
Do you want to talk to another parent about Emerson, learn ways to connect with other families and support the school? Here are four things you can do:
1) Visit the PTA table on Friday mornings at drop-off!
2) Set up your profile in Where’s Waldo, Emerson’s online family directory.
3) Join the PTA .
4) Learn about the Heart of Emerson campaign!
Find Emerson Online
Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org
Remind: Text @7f6hb to 81010; or go to www.remind.com/join/7f6hb
Facebook: www.facebook.com/emersonpta (or follow @emersonPTA)
About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers and posted online at emerson.berkeleypta.org.
BearFacts articles and calendar items are based on submissions from the community and reviewed and edited under the PTA communication policy. Inclusion of an item in BearFacts by itself does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the PTA, Emerson school staff, or BUSD.
If you have a news item or announcement to include in the BearFacts News, please send an email to emersonschoolnews@gmail.com. Please keep your message brief and include all the pertinent details including dates, times, locations and contact information. Send images as an e-mail attachment. The deadline is each Monday at 6 p.m.
Copyright © 2021. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705